Business English - describing trends in bar charts and graphs - IELTS

Summary

In this video, Rich Walton introduces a mini-series focused on describing business trends through graphs. He explains how to use various verbs, noun forms, and prepositions to accurately describe trends in sales data. The video covers both decreasing and increasing sales, emphasizing the importance of using the right prepositions like 'from', 'to', 'by', and 'at' for clarity. Rich also highlights the significance of adverbs, such as 'sharply', to make presentations more engaging. This video serves as a helpful guide for those looking to improve their presentation skills and describe business graphs effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Graphs are great tools for analyzing and discussing business trends, providing a clear visual aid.
• 😀 It's essential to use appropriate verbs and prepositions to accurately describe trends in sales data.
• 😀 Common verbs to describe a decreasing trend include *decrease*, *fall*, *drop*, *reduce*, and *decline*.
• 😀 When describing a decrease in sales, prepositions like 'from,' 'to,' and 'by' are critical for clarity.
• 😀 Example sentences for a decrease: 'Sales fell from 50,000 to 30,000 units' or 'Sales declined to 30,000 units.'
• 😀 Noun forms of verbs can also be used, such as 'a fall in sales' or 'a reduction in unit sales.'
• 😀 To describe an upward trend, verbs like *increase*, *double*, *improve*, and *grow* are commonly used.
• 😀 Prepositions like 'from,' 'to,' and 'by' are important when describing an increase in sales, e.g., 'Sales rose from 30,000 to 60,000 units.'
• 😀 Adverbs like 'sharply' are useful for emphasizing significant changes in trends, such as 'Sales improved sharply.'
• 😀 The use of noun forms can add formality and precision to descriptions, such as 'a significant increase in sales' or 'a sharp rise in unit sales.'

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video in terms of business trends?

The video focuses on describing trends in business using graphs, specifically bar charts, to analyze and present sales data effectively.

What are some of the verbs used to describe a decrease in sales, as mentioned in the video?

The video mentions several verbs for describing a decrease in sales, including 'decrease', 'fall', 'drop', 'reduce', and 'decline'.

Why is it important to understand the correct use of prepositions in describing trends in graphs?

Correct preposition use is essential to avoid confusion when describing changes in sales data. For example, 'reduced by' indicates a difference, while 'reduced to' refers to a final figure.

What is the significance of using the noun form of verbs when describing trends in graphs?

Using noun forms (e.g., 'fall' instead of 'falling') helps in providing a more formal and structured description of the trends, which is essential for business presentations.

What are some verbs used to describe an upward trend in sales?

The video mentions verbs such as 'increase', 'double', 'improve', and 'grow' to describe an upward trend in sales.

What does the adverb 'sharply' indicate when describing sales growth?

The adverb 'sharply' indicates a significant or steep increase in sales, emphasizing the magnitude of the change.

How can one describe the increase in sales from February to March?

Sales can be described using sentences like 'Sales rose from 30,000 to 60,000 units', 'Sales improved sharply to reach 60,000 units', or 'Sales doubled to 60,000 units'.

What prepositions are used when describing a decrease in sales, as per the video?

The prepositions used in the video when describing a decrease in sales are 'from', 'to', and 'by'.

What does 'reaching a peak' refer to in a sales trend?

Reaching a peak refers to achieving the maximum value in a given period, after which the sales trend may begin to decline.

Why is it important to use phrases like 'a significant increase' in business presentations?

Using phrases like 'a significant increase' helps make the figures sound more impressive and can make the presentation more engaging and impactful for the audience.